Tips to stay energised and healthy this festive season

During the festive season it’s so easy to find yourself indulging with copious amounts of Christmas chocolate, feeling overwhelmed by crowds of christmas shoppers and your sleep seems to be constantly interrupted by the worry of forgetting something on the big day. We took the time to speak to our resident Health and Fitness Consultant, Dean Hodgkin, as he shares a number of tips to help you get through the festive period feeling fit, energised and in control.

• When food shopping, remember not to panic buy. The shops will close for merely one day (if at all in some cases) so try not to overstock and create over cluttered cupboards or waste. It also saves a few pennies too!

• Commit to get fit by broadcasting to loved ones that your gift wish-list includes a new workout top, running hat/gloves, a heart rate tracker, a pair of multi-activity training shoes or ear pods for motivational music during your chosen workout. Telling people your intentions gives you more motivation to begin as it makes it more real and obtainable.

• When trying to get to sleep and your mind feels full to the brim with tasks and timings trying to create the perfect Christmas for everyone, find a moment to yourself, take a breath and write everything down. Once everything you are trying to remember is on a piece of paper, its much easier to create a plan, decompress and prioritize, leaving you feel more in control and less overwhelmed, making it easier to have a silent night sleep.

• Spicy drinks, such as a bloody Mary, won’t stimulate your appetite nearly as much as sweet drinks. When making a choice of tipple be aware a dry sherry weighing in at only 58 calories compared with 88 for a glass of Champagne, 200 for a gin and tonic and a whopping 780 for a Long Island iced tea.

• Fill their stockings with a frisbee, skipping rope or a hula hoop. Children’s games are classic fun and give the opportunity to get outside in the fresh winters air and create wonderful memories with the added bonus of burning calories and help to improve your fitness too.

• Taking the skin off the turkey, dry roasting the spuds, trimming the bacon before wrapping it around the sausages, steaming the vegetables and making custard with skimmed milk are just a few of the tactics to reduce fat content whilst still enjoying traditional fayre.

• It is only once a year after all so treat yourself to a slice of Christmas cake but try it ‘undressed’. By removing the icing and marzipan, it can cut the calorie intake of a small portion in half.

• Perhaps because it’s so accessible, walking is often overlooked as a means to getting in shape, however, it really can be effective for improving your fitness level. In addition, regular walking has been shown to reduce risks of heart attack, stress, osteoporosis so instead of dozing after lunch, an afternoon stroll could be just the ticket.

• After all the excitement of Christmas Day, you might wake up on Boxing Day feeling hungry due to your blood sugar levels plummeting overnight. Rather than
  skipping breakfast in an attempt to compensate for the previous day’s eating, why not opt for a herbal tea to settle the stomach and perhaps a classic Ragdale Atholl Brose with a seasonal berry twist. To find out how to make this at home, see ingredients and method here.

If you are planning to visit us soon and want to kick start your fitness journey or find a plan that works for you, our new range of bespoke programmes, designed for all fitness levels is the perfect way to help achieve your fitness goals for 2023.

For further details, please call our Treatments and Activities Team to book yours or email fitness@ragdalehall.co.uk